Lydia Kelley is dedicated to advancing equitable and inclusive education systems through social change. Her area of interest explores how education and workforce systems can better support marginalized communities through research-driven policy solutions.

At UCLA Luskin, Kelley serves as Co-President of the Public Policy Leadership Association (PPLA), where she leads engagements centered on leadership development and professional networking for graduate students. She has also moderated several UCLA Luskin events, including the Luskin alumni and the First-Gen, Students of Color panels, creating spaces for meaningful dialogue on access, identity, and representation in policy. Beyond campus, she is a Research Associate at Daley Strategies, a private consulting firm representing clients across California’s public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Before UCLA, Kelley earned a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from California State University, Fullerton. She received a Certificate of Special Recognition from Congresswoman Norma Torres and the UCLA Graduate Opportunity Fellowship. Her experience also includes internships with Congresswoman Katie Porter and Congresswoman Norma Torres in their district offices, as well as serving as Student Body President and two-term Sigma Kappa Chapter President at CSUF, where she represented the sorority’s National Council on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. As a woman of color, Kelley is passionate about empowering the next generation of changemakers by driving social progress through policy innovation, media influence, and community impact.